李香蘭 - 夜來香 Li Xianglan - Evening Tuberose (Ye Lai Xiang)

The Evening Tuberose is Li Xianglan’s (李香蘭) signature song. Here are the original Mandarin Chinese and the Japanese versions. The literal translation of the song’s title is Evening Fragrance, that is why the song is sometimes called Fragrance of the Night. The lyrics are simple, but the musical range is great. According to legend, many singers were offered this song, but declined, except for Li Xianglan. Since Yamaguchi Yoshiko (1920 – 2014) was a movie star, there are many publicity pictures of her early life. I show many important events in her life during the Japanese version of the song. The Japanese lyrics are an approximation of the original Chinese version. Words in a different language do not rhyme. Choose English closed caption for English interpretation of the lyrics or English (United States) for historical captions of the photographs. Chinese is the phonetic translation in Chinese and Japanese. Chinese (traditional) show the traditional Chinese characters and Japanese characters. An excellent history of her life is given in http://www.yoshikoyamaguchi/blog or read the Wikipedia article for Yoshiko Yamaguchi.

Click "Li Xianglan album"    • 李香蘭 - Li Xianglan Album   for all her songs in this channel.
Click "Shirley Yamaguchi Sacramento 1950"    • 夜來香 (李香蘭 現場演唱)   to hear Li Xianglan singing the Chinese song to a live audience. The tempo is faster than the recording.

Chinese (traditional)
夜來香
作詞：黎錦光　作曲：黎錦光　編曲：森岡賢一郎

那南風吹來清涼　那夜鶯啼聲輕唱
月下的花兒都入夢　只有那夜來香
吐露著芬芳
我愛這夜色茫茫　也愛著夜鶯歌唱
更愛那花一般的夢　擁抱著夜來香
吻著夜來香
夜來香　我為你歌唱
夜來香　我為你思量
啊...　　我為你歌唱　我為你思量
夜來香　夜來香　夜來香

Japanese lyrics
あわれ春風に 嘆くうぐいすよ
月に切なくも 匂う夜來香
この香りよ
長き夜の泪 唄ううぐいすよ
恋の夢消えて 残る夜來香
この夜來香
夜來香 白い花
夜來香 恋の花
ああ 胸いたく 唄かなし
あわれ春風に 嘆くうぐいすよ
つきぬ思い出の 花は夜來香
恋の夜來香
長き夜の泪 唄ううぐいすよ
恋の夢消えて 残る夜來香
この夜來香
夜來香 白い花
夜來香 恋の花
ああ 胸いたく 唄かなし 夜來香 夜來香 夜來香

English Interpretation of Chinese Lyrics

The south wind blows cool, the nightingale sings softly, the little flowers under the moon are all dreaming, only that evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), exudes fragrance. I love this dark night, also love the singing of the nightingales, I love the flower like dream even more, hug the evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), kiss the evening tuberose (ye lai xiang). Evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), I sing for you. Evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), I think about you. Ah, I sing for you, I think about you. I love this dark night, also love the singing of the nightingales, I love the flower like dream even more, hug the evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), kiss the evening tuberose (ye lai xiang). I love this dark night, also love the singing of the nightingales, I love the flower like dream even more, hug the evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), kiss the evening tuberose (ye lai xiang). Evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), evening tuberose (ye lai xiang),

English Interpretation of Japanese Lyrics

Pity the spring breeze, hear the lamenting warbler, Ye lai xiang smells sadly under the moon. This scent, long night singing, has a sour memory. The dream of love disappears and reappears, evening tuberose (ye lai xiang). This evening tuberose (ye lai xiang). Evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), the white flower. . Evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), the flower of love. Ah, I want to sing a song. The warbler mourns the spring breeze. Evening tuberose (ye lai xiang) is the flower of unforgettable memories. Evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), evening tuberose (ye lai xiang), evening tuberose (ye lai xiang),